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Saturday, September 5, 2009

I wanted to take some time today to talk about natural body detox. I know the majority of my posts have been about natural homemade beauty remedies for our external body but I also wanted to highlight the importance of making sure our internal body was just as beautiful. Of course, there is the common advice that most of us have heard (and hopefully try to follow!) such as drink plenty of water to keep your body healthy (along with your skin!), to stay away from fatty foods, smoking, excessive drinking however, I came across a great learning tool that I used to try my first all natural body detox and wanted to share this with anyone interested in enjoying better health, radiant skin and greater levels of energy in a natural and safe way. I'd highly recommend that everyone try to herbal body wrap outlined on page 37 which can be done at home and from my experience, I thoroughly enjoyed this! This site allows you to learn about how to create your own at home natural body detox program and I can honestly say that I can feel the difference. Not only does my skin look clearer but I also feel like I have an extra "bounce" to my step and feel "lighter" (I'm also trying to eat healthier which the site explains about how to improve your health by eating better). I think the natural body detox, along with choosing healthier food options, is a great way not only to cleanse your body but also keep your skin looking amazing, youthful and glowing! Give it a try and tell me what you think!

Saturday, July 18, 2009

The classic facial, egg masks have been used by women all across the world for centuries. It consists simply of a raw egg spread on the face and left to dry, then rinsed off with cool water to complete the total facial experience. My grandmother used this simple mask once a week to keep her skin youthful and glowing. Here are a few variations, depending on your skin type, of this at-home, natural and organic beauty recipe. If you're looking for an instant skin tightening recipe, be sure to check out the Egg Mask Skin Tightener recipe (it was also featured on the Rachel Ray show!)

Egg Mask (for oily skin)Mix together 1 egg white and 1 tablespoon of oatmeal. Spread on face and neck, let sit for 15-20 minutes and rinse well with tepid water. This mask is especially good for removing blackheads.

Once again, this recipe and several of the ones featured in my blog are from my favourite natural beauty book, that I always refer to when I need a pick me upper. I'd recommend that everyone buy a copy and keep this as a tool in your beauty toolbox!

Sunday, July 12, 2009

This bath mix is great to use when you want to relax after a long day to relieve stress and tension. Make this bath mix in your next bathtub session, use candles, soft jazz music to fully enjoy your stress-free time. Not only will this help with relaxation but also with boosting your circulation and will help to cleanse your skin and act as an antioxidant. Fill an sugar bowl or shaker (I find this works best) with this spicy mixture and place it next to your tub so you have it available whenever you need a relaxation bath session. Definitely give this mixture and let me know what you think of it!

Mix together all the ingredients until well blended. To use: Add 2 tablespoons of the bath mix to a warm tub of water. Store the mixture in a clean, dry container (as mentioned, I like using a shaker since it's easy to use and store). This amount will be enough for about 2 to 3 baths.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Did you know that "Kiwi" is slang for someone that comes from New Zealand? It's of course also a delicious fruit that is available in any grocery store. The kiwi fruit, like any other sweet citrus fruit, is a natural astringent. Astringments or toners as they're commonly referred to, are useful to use after you have cleansed your skin to remove excess oil and tighten the skin. Avoid any store-bought toners that are alcohol-based as they strip the skin of their essential oils causing excessive drying. Instead of buying your toner, why not make it yourself using natural fruits? Not to mention that it's whole lot cheaper than any of the toners out in the marketplace.

Pour the boiling water over the mashed kiri fruit in a ceramic bowl and let sit until cool (about 20-30 minutes). Strain the mixture well to remove all fruit solids and seeds. I usually strain twice, once with a fine metal strained and then with a paper coffee filter. Add the vodka to the liquid and stir. Apply to the skin with a clean cotton pad (you can pick up a pack for cheap at your local dollarstore). You may rinse your face with cool water if you have sensitive skin.

You can find this recipe along with several others, in one of my favourite natural beauty books, which I highly recommend for all natural beauties. It has natural beauty recipes, divided by the four seasons, to make sure that your skin, hair, nails and body are beautiful and healthy all year long!

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

My previous beauty secret revealed how egg whites are a fantastic way to tighten skin and reduce wrinkles temporarily. Here's another skin tightening beauty recipe that smells just "peachy" and will help to leave skin soft and youthful.

Peach Tightening Mask1 ripe peach, peeled and pitted1 egg white

Blend the peach and egg white in a blender until they are blended well. Once again, I like to use a barbeque sauce brush because it makes the face mask easy to apply. Apply over your face and leave the mask on for at least 30 minutes. This is typically longer than most facial masks that I have included so make sure that you do this during a time that you can truly relax, maybe before you head off to bed or the night before an important event. After the mask has dried, rinse off with cool water.

Summertime is great...but the weather is not helpful for my oily skin. Try this beauty recipe to combat oily skin. It will definitely leave you refreshed and energized! I would have to put this down as my second favourite recipe, my first being the Strawberry Hand and Foot Exfoliant The cucumbers are vital to this recipe, not only because of their cleansing attributes but also because of the wonderful refreshing smell they give to make this beauty recipe one that helps also with stress and relaxation. Cucumbers are popular when it comes to beauty, whether it's the age-old technique of putting them on your eyes to reduce puffyness or utilized as a staple in luxury spas where they place them along with lemons, to drinking water for their clients, to add a refreshing zestful taste. It's amazing how little things can make such a big difference!

Puree all ingredients. Once again, I like using a blender just to make my life easier. After the ingredients have been blended, place them into the fridge so that mixture can be chilled. Apply the mixture to your face and leave it on for 15 minutes. Relax. Remove the facial mask with warm water and then end off with cool water. This is especially refreshing during the summer time after a hot and humid day.

Here's a great beauty recipe to remove blemishes and marks from your skin. The secret lies in the main ingredient--tomatoes! Use these mask twice a week and concentrate to apply the mask to blemish prone areas, such as the cheeks, chin and forehead. I had my sister try out this facial mask as her skin is prone to blemishes and breakouts and she really enjoyed it. Give it a try!

Blend all the ingredients until they are combined well. I like using a blender since it makes my life a lot more easier but you can always mix it by hand too. Make sure that the mixture is not too thin or else you will have a hard time applying it to your skin as a facial mask. If the mask does end up becoming too thin, add more oatmeal to thicken the mask until it becomes thick enough for your liking. Remember to apply more generously on your blemish-prone areas which tend to be your chin, cheeks, and forehead. Leave it on for 10 minutes and then remove with lukewarm water. I like using a washcloth dipped in lukewarm water as I find this makes removing the facial mask much easier and keeps my sink area cleaner as well.

This is about as simple as homemade beauty recipes can get--I used this recipe for a skin tightening effect and felt great! Eggs are another common ingredient in homemade beauty recipes, especially for homemade facials, and are also a popular ingredient when it comes to hair. I'll try to include another hair recipe soon as well but until then try this recipe for an egg mask, which has been known to help reduce wrinkles temporarily. I try to use this mask once a week just to refresh my skin and feel energized.

Egg Mask Skin Tightener1 egg

Separate the egg yolk from the egg white. Put the egg white on your face (I used one of those barbeque sauce brushes that can be found at any kitchen store, I've included a picture to your left, of course your bowl and brush will be clear instead of a barbeque sauce shade lol). I found it easier to use the brush to apply the mask but just make sure it has been cleaned thoroughly before you use it. Let the mask dry for about 10-15 minutes and then remove with lukewarm water.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Yogourt is pretty much a staple in several homemade beauty recipes. Full of healthy bacteria, this is one of the reasons why it works wonders as a natural cleaner and moisturizer for skin. Mixed with honey (another staple in homemade beauty recipes), the after effects of this body mask are amazing! This recipe is completed with an unlikely ingredient (I call it an "undercover" ingredient--widely unknown of its powerful beautifying effects) ..CARROTS! Yup, carrots are known to be good for your eyesight but they're always very good for your skin, giving it a healthy glow and smoothness. When used on the skin, it helps in removing acne and unattractive marks and spots. And no, it will not turn your skin orange! (I tested this myself!). I especially like this body mask as it leaves your skin with a beautiful touch and definitely helps me relax during my stress days. Try it on your body and face for a goddess glow!

Blend carrots (avoid using baby carrots that you can find pre-washed in convenient bags as I've heard they have some preservative chemicals in them--have you ever noticed how they turn white after a few days??) in a blender until they are pureed and you have enough for three tablespoons (I used about 4 large sized carrots and had enough for the receipe and some left over which I plan on using for the next time I use this body mask--I just kept in a ziploc bag in my fridge, so it's more convenient and ready to go the next time I need a quick body mask). Next, mix your carrots with your honey and yogourt. I prefer to use the full fat yogourt just so the recipe is rich. As for honey, I was lucky enough to find a lady on the outskirts of Toronto who had a bee farm and was able to buy organic honey which I love and highly recommend if you're able to do so (this is much easier to do in the summer than winter of course). However, for convenience, using store bought honey will also be fine. Draw a warm bath and wrap your body and face in this lovely mask as the water fills your tub. Light some candles, put on a little jazz music or grab your favourite mystery novel and then sink into your bath for about 20 minutes. Then rinse off and check out your goddess glow!

Strawberries are amazing...not only are they delicious (especially when dipped in chocolate..yummy!) but also contain several polyphenols that are jam packed with high levels of antioxidants. Strawberries contain a natural fruit acid which helps in exfoliation. I have yet to meet anyone who does not love strawberries (my favourite fruit!). With high levels of Vitamin C they are popular for their antioxidant potency but I would say are an "undercover" ingredient when it comes to homemade beauty recipes--you barely ever hear of them being used in homemade beauty receipes. Since it's summer now, it's also the time of open toe high heels so why not give this exfoliant a try on your tired, aching feet to make them smooth, refresed and not to mention smell great? Furthermore, our we put our hands through so much abuse, so I tried the recipe on both my hands and feet and the refreshing and soothing benefits were amazing. I'll admit though, it was very hard to make this beauty receipe without taking a few bites of the main ingredient (which is another natural and organic way to add some colour to one's lips--organic red lipstick! lol). This is no doubt one of my favourite recipes!

Strawberry Hand and Foot Exfoliant8-10 strawberries2 tablespoons of apriot oil (I used olive oil instead)1 teaspoon of coarse salt (I used Sea Salt but you can also use Kosher Salt)

Before making this receipe, I'd highly recommend to use this when you know you will not be leaving the house for some time. Strawberries to have a tendency to stain (nothing permanent, just temporarily), so I often do use this receipe on my Sundays when I'm going to be relaxing at home all day or when I'm having a low-key Friday night and I know I am not going out for the evening. The key to stay away from any staining is not to keep the receipe on your hands and feet for too long. Put it on, enjoy it and then rinse it off. To begin, I put all the strawberries into a bowl and mash them up (not too pureed but just to a nice pulp). I then add the olive oil (you can use apriot oil if you prefer but I like olive oil and it's easier to find in the kitchen than apriot oil which I would have to go out and make a special purchase of) and then finally the coarse salt (I like using Sea Salt but any type of coarse salt is acceptable). I mix all the ingredients together and then place the mixture on my feet first, massage for a few minutes and then rinse off with cold water (I find it helps my aching feet after a long week of wearing high heels! poor toes!). I then place the mixture on my hands, massage and rinse off with cold water.